Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels toward Taif and Yanbu on Thursday, September 24, 2026.
The Saudi-backed Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen reported that its air defenses destroyed the incoming weapons mid-air. Major General Turki al-Malki, spokesman for the coalition, confirmed that the missiles were destroyed on Thursday heading toward Taif and the critical Red Sea port city of Yanbu. The port serves as a vital artery for Saudi crude oil when shipments through the Strait of Hormuz face disruption.
Regional Defense Networks and International Interceptions
International military personnel stationed in the kingdom also engaged incoming threats. A Reuters report revealed that an air defence system operated by Greek military personnel successfully intercepted a ballistic missile and a drone in the wider Yanbu area on Thursday. Both were shot down,
a Greek security source told the news outlet, noting that the Greek Patriot system fired two interceptor missiles.
Regional officials disclosed to the Associated Press that Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has sought air defense support from Pakistan, Egypt, France, and Britain. Meanwhile, the United States maintained that it has no current fight with the Houthis.
Civilian Alerts and Escalating Fronts Near Mecca and Riyadh
Civil defense authorities issued urgent warnings on Thursday morning across Mecca, Jeddah, Yanbu, Tabuk, and Taif. Last week, Saudi air defenses intercepted a drone near Mecca, which Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi dismissed as a heinous lie
despite the kingdom declaring the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad a strict red line.
The current campaign began drawing closer to the Saudi interior when Yemen’s Houthi rebels tried to attack its capital with a ballistic missile, leading residents in Riyadh to report hearing an explosion and seeing smoke plumes near the airport. Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for targeting sensitive sites in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu. Aramco did not respond to requests for comment, and independent verification remains limited.
Ground Offensives Across Yemen’s Red Sea Coast
While the aerial conflict expands across the kingdom, fierce ground combat continues inside Yemen. Houthi forces advanced down the country’s western coastline in a rapid offensive, seizing the port city of Mokha and islands along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. That coastal capture strengthens their maritime surveillance, though the group insists its naval blockade declared in July targets only Saudi shipping.
On the ground in Yemen’s southwestern Taiz governorate, forces loyal to the internationally recognized government reported repelling coordinated Houthi assaults. Colonel Majid al-Nuzaili, spokesman for the Yemeni government forces, stated that the Houthis launched coordinated attacks on Wednesday night in an effort to breach key roadways connecting Aden, Lahj, and Taiz.